COLTURA COMMITS TO LAS VEGAS

Defenceman Nick Coltura (95) has committed to the University of Las Vegas for next season.

Happy to announce my commitment to @UNLVRebelHockey! I'm extremely excited to get things going #GoRebels

— colts95 (@nickcoltura) June 25, 2016

The Maple Ridge native played two seasons with the Express dressing in 65 games with 3 goals and 11 assists for 14 points. He also played in all 4 playoff games in the 2016 playoffs. Injuries limited Coltura to just 24 games last season where he had 3 goals and 1 assists totaling 4 points.

UNLV is a Division II program as part of the ACHA and plays in the Mountain West Colligate Hockey League and played it's first season in that league in 2015-16 season.

With the addition of Coltura, last season's Express team has 10 players who have committed to college for next year or the fall of 2017.

Congratulations Nick. 

EXPRESS ACQUIRE CENTS CAPTAIN KAILA

Photo courtesy of Garrett James

Head Coach and GM Barry Wolff continues the process of building the 2016-17 Express.

After adding Domenic Masellis from Penticton last week, Wednesday Wolff added more BCHL experience to the blueline by acquiring Malik Kaila (96) from the Merritt Centennials in exchange for future considerations.

The Squamish native will be a 20 year old next season and will be entering his fourth and final season in the BCHL. Kaila served as Centennials captain in 2015-16 and was also named the team’s Most Dedicated Player at the 2016 post-season awards.

He's dressed for 131 career BCHL goals with 1 goal and 19 assists for 20 career points. In 15-16 he dressed for 54 games with 8 assists. Kaila amassed 51 minutes in penalties last season and 170 in his BCHL career. He weighs in at 190lbs while standing at 6'1.

Now with the additions of Kaila and Masellis the Express have added 279 career games in BCHL experience to next years blueline in the span of just over a week.

Welcome to the Express Malik. 

EXPRESS ACQUIRE MASELLIS

Photo courtesy of Garrett James

The Coquitlam Express have added some size and experience for their blueline for next season.

They have acquired defenceman Domenic Masellis (97) from the Penticton Vees for future considerations.

The Burnaby native stands at 6'3 and weighs in 225 pounds. He will be entering his fourth BCHL season next year in 2016-17.

Masellis has 148 career BCHL games mostly played in the Lower Mainland with the Surrey Eagles and Langley Rivermen. The Vees acquired Masellis in November 2015 and in 47 games last season with Langley and Penticton he had 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points.

In his career he has 3 goals and 13 assists for 18 points with 203 penalty minutes. He's also dressed in 20 career BCHL playoff games, making the post season in each of his first three years in the BCHL.

Welcome to the Express Domenic.

MACKIN HONOURED BY COQUITLAM SPORTS HALL OF FAME

It's been more than a year since Corey Mackin played his last game in an Express uniform. But the honors still keep coming in.

The Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame has named Mackin as their 2015 Senior Male athlete of the year.

The Philadelphia Pennsylvania native played two seasons with the Express from 2013-15. In his first year with the Express he helped the team win their second Fred Page cup BCHL championship.

The next year he would light up scoreboards around the BCHL. He would dress for all 58 games and lead the league in scoring with 50 goals and 54 assists for 104 points. Mackin would become just the third player in Express franchise history to score 50 goals in a season. It was the first time that an Express player who played in Coquitlam scored 50 goals in a season. The previous two players to do it Kyle Turris and Brodie Reid did it when the franchise was located in Burnaby.

Mackin's season was recognized by the BCHL by winning the Vern Dye award as league MVP and the Brett Hull trophy as the BCHL's top scorer. The 104 points Mackin registered in 14-15 is tied with Tyler McNeely for the second most points by a player in Express franchise history. He's also the second player in team history to win a BCHL scoring title joining Carlo Finucci who had 102 points in 2008.

In addition to recognition for his season by the BCHL, Mackin was honored nationally by being awarded the MVP and Top Forward by the Canadian Junior Hockey League.

In two seasons with the Express Mackin compiled 74 goals and 80 assists for 154 points in 115 games.

This past season Mackin completed his first season in the NCAA with Ferris State. He continued his success on the ice winning the WCHA rookie of the year award after 10 goals and 25 points in 41 games. Mackin's Bulldogs also won the WCHA championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament.

It's the second straight year a member of the Express have been honored by the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame. Head Coach Barry Wolff was named the 2014 Coach of the year.

Congratulations Corey.

MICHIE COMMITS TO ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE

Mat Michie with his grandfather Sandy.

Forward Mat Michie (95) has committed to Royal Military college for next season.

The 21 year old Port Coquitlam native played his one and only season with the Express during the 2015-16 season. He dressed for 55 games tallying 13 points, but made more of an impact with his leadership and physical play. Michie served as an assistant captain.

His in your face style made him a very difficult opponent to play against. He wasn't afraid to get under the skin of his opponents. His style lead to Michie finishing with 144 penalty minutes which was tops in the BCHL. Michie along with teammate Jack Surowiec was named the Express' unsung hero last season.

Prior to his time with the Express, Michie played two seasons with the Walpole Express of the EHL in Walpole Massachusetts.

The Michie name has plenty of history with hockey in Coquitlam. Mat's grandfather Sandy ran the Coquitlam Comets that played Junior A & B from the 60's through to the early 80's.

Royal Military College is located in Kingston Ontario and plays in the OUAA of the CIS.

Congratulations Mat.